Веснянки
Chapter V
TheBirdWomanputonleatherleggings,andanice,parboiledtimeshemustbehaving!WorstdoseIeverendured,andI’dnothingtodobutswelter.”
“Willyoubecomingoutofthere?”groanedFreckles.
Shelaughedasifitwereafinejoke.
“MaybeifI’dbetellingyouIkilledarattlercurleduponthatsameplaceyou’restanding,aslongasmebodyandthethicknessofmearm,you’dbemovingwhereIcanseeyourfooting,”heurgedinsistently.
“Whataperfectlydelightfullittlebrogueyouspeak,”shesaid.“MyfatherisIrish,andhalfshouldbeenoughtoentitlemetothatmuch.’Maybe—ifI’d—betellingyou,’”sheimitated,roundingandaccentingeachwordcarefully.
Freckleswasbeginningtofeelawildnessinhishead.HehadderidedWessneratthatsamehouryesterday.Nowhisowneyeswerefillingwithtears.
“Ifyouwereunderstandingthedanger!”hecontinueddesperately.
“Oh,Idon’tthinkthereismuch!”
Shetiltedonthemorass.
“Ifyoukilledonesnakehere,it’sprobablyallthereisnear;andanyway,theBirdWomansaysarattlesnakeisagentlemanandalwaysgiveswarningbeforehestrikes.Idon’thearanyrattling.Doyou?”
“Wouldyoubeknowingitifyoudid?”askedFreckles,almostimpatiently.
Howthelaughoftheyoungthingrippled!
“’WouldIbeknowingit?’”shemocked.“YoushouldseetheswampsofMichiganwheretheydumprattlersfromthemarl-dredgersthreeandfouratatime!”
Frecklesstoodastounded.Shedidknow.Shewasnotintheleastafraid.
